Ornate with unreal passion of the exhibitionist
Powder, pigment,  shameless layers of gilt
Upward thrusting walls clutch cornice plaster
Lush. plush textiles; colours in all splendour 
Excess trademarks motive, sham and bluff
Nothing less than squander's good enough
Come fire, or war, or penury as downfall
Everything is elementary, after all

28 thoughts on “Opulence”

1. You have eloquently dug deep into the image Laura! Those closing lines are wonderful!

   1. thanks for hosting and giving us photo choices this week though only this one moved the Muse to an acrostic

2. And everything is temporary, in the grand scheme… I really enjoyed this “laying bare” you’ve manifest — well written Laura!

   1. and everything laid bare is bare 😉 thanks Rob

3. “Nothing less than squander’s good enough” – I like that phrasing. And the downfall that so often follows, right?

   1. yes its a bit of a didactic acrostic!

4. Wow, Laura… the rhyme in this piece felt almost like a magical incantation to me…

   ❤
   David

   1. thanks David – I’m evidently still in rhyme mode after Thursday!

      1. have you been speaking in rhyme too? 😉

         1. only to myself!

5. Gorgeous word choices, painting this picture.

   1. many thanks Maria – I could almost see what the room looked like before!

6. As I read through this a couple of times then looked at the image, I thought of someone who puts on the rose colored glasses to rationalize this kind of lifestyle without seeing what’s really there. Well-woven, Laura.

   1. I like the angle you saw from here, Lisa

7. …and then bringing us back to our feet: everything is elementary….

   1. yes – a down to earth ending

8. This sideswiped me: the excess breaking down, the unnamed force cleaning everything to dust.

   1. thank you for you kind comment – decrepitude is a force to be reckoned with!

9. Wonderful lines, rich and thought provoking… layers of gilt ~ upward thrusting ~ wow.

   1. many thank Helen – could not resist that double entendre 😉

10. Lifestyles of the rich and famous also come to dust. I especially like “…Nothing less than squander’s good enough.” Perfect capture of the picture’s depths.

    1. i’d been re-reading some Fitzgerald and some of the Jazz Age left its mark here methinks

11. Ozymandias might agree!

    1. indeed – and despair

12. Nice acrostic. I absolutely luv that last line
    “Everything is elementary, after all”
    Have a good Sunday

    Much love…

    1. many thanks Gillena – hope you had a good birthday

13. Perfect ending. Love this poem, Laura!

    1. many thanks ❤

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